He's a phenomenon: Dhoni

India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni wants Sachin Tendulkar to celebrate his 20 years in international cricket by scoring a hundred in the first Test against Sri Lanka starting here tomorrow.

"It can't get better than this...playing Test cricket after a long time, Sachin completing 20 years. Hopefully he will score a century. It can't get better than Sachin completing 20 years and getting a century (in the match)," said Dhoni at the pre-match media conference here today.

Describing Tendulkar as a phenomenon, Dhoni said he felt honoured to share the dressing room with the champion right-hander.

"He's a phenomenon. His passion for the game, the way he has played and conducted himself, he has been a role model for 20 years. It's really amazing. I am honoured to share the dressing room with him. I did not even dream I would be playing with him," the wicket keeper batsman said.

Asked how the team will celebrate the milestone, Dhoni said "what the team does shall remain within the confines of the dressing room."

Sources in the team said the players will have a celebratory dinner tonight in the hotel room with Tendulkar and his family members, who are here.

Dhoni also stressed the hype over Tendulkar's landmark with round-the-clock coverage on the world batting record holder in the Indian media would not distract his team from the task at hand.

"It's not a distraction, in fact it's an inspiration for all of us," Dhoni said

"We are not under-prepared for this Test. We will have to shift attention and apply ourselves to the longer game, but all of us have been in good touch. Hopefully we will play to our potential and win," the captain insisted.

Dhoni said the pressure on the hosts was as much as before.

"Whether we are playing the world's best team or a side that is at the bottom of the rankings, the pressure remains the same. That is what Test cricket is all about. Sri Lanka is one of the best sides and it will be an interesting series," he said.

Dhoni said the brownish wicket was "very different" from the seaming track that was prepared for India's last Test here in March last year.

"The wicket is a bit sticky at the moment because it has been watered, but it will dry up in this hot weather and will be good to bat on."